Stevenage 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 - League One player ratings

As the Comet website has moved to a subscription model (click HERE for our latest offer of £6 for six months or half price, £19 for the year - guaranteeing you ad free access to all of our Stevenage coverage), it has been decided, quite rightly, that I need to pull my finger out and provide some 'decent' opinion pieces among other things.

Player ratings are always a topic of much debate. It's rare that what I see from the press box will be matched exactly by others elsewhere in the ground.

But debate is not a dirty word, I love to hear what other people think. It helps you learn, understand and see the world from an different perspective. And I reckon that's a reminder that definitely won't hurt at the minute.

And so this is how I viewed Saturday's 1-0 win at the Lamex but get in the comments and let me know what you thought too.

Player ratings

Stevenage (0) 1 Shrewsbury Town (0) 0

Murphy Cooper - 8

It's always difficult to give keepers marks when they haven't had a lot to do but I thought about it and can't remember him putting a foot wrong. One good stop, claimed everything else and seemed to command his area. A clean sheet on debut as well means it is so far, so good as he looks to provide competition for Taye Ashby-Hammond.

Luther Wildin - 6

A relatively quiet game for the full-back. Perhaps he doesn't need to make those lung-bursting runs down the flank in the new system but it was a notable miss. Or at least, they weren't as prevalent as previously. Still a hugely dependable player though.

Carl Piergianni - 7

Talking of dependable and reliable and lots of other words ending in -able. He was and always will be. The focal point for knock downs in the 2.0 era and why not, could do that in his sleep.

Dan Sweeney - 7

If Luther wasn't making his usual runs forward then neither was Dan Sweeney going all Franz Beckenbauer and striding out of the Boro half. What was left though was a player who could concentrate on his defending and he did it wonderfully. Seems to be growing in stature too as the years progress.

Dan Kemp - 8

Seemed to be having some early struggles in this one and then suddenly, pow! Should have scored from the penalty and with a bit of luck, he would have scored from six yards out in the first half. But he created loads too, dovetailing with Louis Thompson beautifully. Just the debut we hoped for.

Tyreece Simpson - 7

Like many he grew into the game. Should really have taken the penalty and got off the mark but his strength was really in evidence as the contest went on. Was a constant handful for the centre-halves of Shrewsbury and drew a good save out of Toby Savin. Another one with a big tick next to 'debut'.

Lewis Freestone - 5

Lewis Freestone was one missing that tick unfortunately. Turned way too easily for Shrewsbury's one big chance in the first half and had Cooper not saved it, who knows? Simple fact is, he isn't a left-back, he's a centre-half. I'm really looking forward to seeing him play in the middle but when Dan Butler is back, he goes straight in and I think a loan deal for a back-up is now a necessity.

Elliott List - 8

Almost anonymous for the first 25 minutes but then suddenly found his feet. He realised he could stretch the Shrewsbury defence, pull them one way and then the other, and the goal was a lovely example of quick feet and a confident striker. Are we finally going to see the player we all thought was coming two years ago before the injury? Maybe, just maybe.

Harvey White - 7

I felt this was going to be a pivotal year for the former Tottenham man and if this is anything to go by, it's actually going to be a breakthrough year. The deliveries from corners in particular were delightful, if those from free-kicks weren't always on point. The passing we know is great but for me it was the tackles and pressing, the dark arts basically. They were light years up on last year. We all want him to succeed. This is a very good start. 

Dan Phillips - 6

Perhaps he was just overshadowed by his three fellow midfielders, perhaps I missed things while typing. He definitely wasn't bad but like Wildin, this was just a solid if unspectacular game for me. Thing is, if you've got the other three men in the middle playing with spark and fire, having a solid guy alongside is no bad thing. Will be a big player this year, that's the belief of the boss. Me too.

Louis Thompson - 9

Best game in a Boro shirt bar none. He was electric. Got beyond the front players more times than I could note, won the ball high up the pitch, offered support, pace, trickery, everything. There was hope when he signed that he could rediscover some of his form from early in his career. Well, perhaps he just has and then some. Comet Sport man of the match.

Subs - Nathan Thompson, Ben Thompson, Nick Freeman, Louis Appere

The first two changes on 75 minutes, Nathan Thompson and Louis Appere for Louis Thompson and Tyreece Simpson, almost handed Shrewsbury a way back into the game, Mal Benning firing low past the post. That though was a minor hiccough as the team adapted to their arrival. It lasted less than a minute and after that, Boro were back in control.

Was it a pen on Appere? There was a hand there but not enough for me. But if he stays on his feet, he scores for me. Squad though is strong, very strong this year.

Shrewsbury's stand-outs

Can't say there was anyone really. Benning had a couple of efforts that were off target, playing in an advanced wing-back role almost, while Toto Nsiala made some good tackles, and some bad ones, hence the booking.

Savin saved a couple but then he was always going to on his return to the Lamex. Nothing earth-shatteringly impressive though.

Overall

Start with the win, there were way too many draws at the Lamex Stadium last season and the place was anything like a fortress. Victories numbered 10 last term from the 23 played, eight ending in draws.

It got better as the season went on and this just continues the swing back up the mountain.

There were 19 clean sheets last year too in the 46 League One matches. This one may go unnoticed in the glow of an opening day win, it shouldn't. Boro looked very solid.

Forget the opening 25 minutes, put them down to rust, this was a good performance and it is the promise that is the most exciting thing. Plenty more to come.